2007 Toyota Prius Oil Change - Tools needed

6. (correction) Steel (not plastic) oil filter cap wrench that tightly fits the end of your oil filter
7. Oil drain plug gasket
8. A pair of jack stands to safely hold the front of the car up after you've lifted it up with the hydraulic jack
9. 1/2" ratchet wrench with metric sockets. I believe you will need either a 12 mm or 14 mm socket to remove the drain plug.
10. 1/2" torque wrench (optional) so that you can torque the oil pan drain plug to 28 ft.-lb
11. 1/2" cheater bar (optional) to make your life easier if you should find you are not strong enough to loosen the drain plug with the leverage provided by the ratchet wrench
12. Most oil filter cap wrenches assume they will be turned with a 3/8" ratchet wrench. So you will need a 3/8" ratchet wrench and extension, OR use a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter, and your 1/2" ratchet wrench with an extension.

You can recycle the used engine oil at Walmart, many discount auto parts stores, and at your city's household hazardous chemicals drop point - usually located at your local landfill.

 

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Buy the filter at the dealer. Its $4.50 and they also have the exact filter cap wrench for that tiny little filter 3/8's drive.
At least my dealer does. Autoparts stores carry them too if the dealer is out. Just bring the filter for size check.
That specific cap wrench will make your life alot easier.

 

I got the Lisle 63600 Oil Filter Tool from amazon as my oil filter wrench, it does use a 3/8 inch drive as does my socket set. The advantage over the specific cap wrench is that if you buy an oversized filter or someday change the oil on a different vehicle it will still work. The disadvantage is that it only works when loosening not tightening so you will have to turn it one quarter turn past contact with the gasket when tightening instead of applying the specified torque by torque wrench. (Oversized filters are not strictly necessary but there are reasons why you might use one, like if you were switching to synthetic at high mileage and worried about possible sludge clogging the filter.)

You need the 14mm socket for the drain bolt. Two things I didn't see mentioned previously in the thread that are critical are:
13. Oil drain pan with pour spout
14. Oil funnel for pouring oil into the engine with a screen to keep leaves from falling in if you are working outside, and a different looking oil funnel without a screen for pouring the used oil into another container for recycling. You could use the same funnel but you'd have to clean it after each oil change.

In my town they recycle used motor oil curbside, but most places that sell it recycle it as well.

 

Hey dude: Get a Fumoto.

Seriously. If you are going to be changing your own, it will make it much quicker, less messy and if you somehow get distracted and pour in six quarts of oil instead of 3.5 or so, the Fumoto makes it a snap to get rid of the excess (sorta).

Google Fumoto. Check Fumoto drain valve out on YouTube, search these forums for information on Fumoto drain valves and look for a discount code floating around the web. It will save you about $5. QuickOilDrainValve.com

 

I think you may want to go to PriusChat member's John1701a web page and he has detailed instructions for Gen2 oil changes. That's what I use all the time. I just use the jack in the car, socket wrench 14 mm and oil filter remover socket and a socket extender. And OK I use an oil capture tub. And a brick for the tire block.

 

Don't use the scissors jack, buy a pair of Rhino Ramps. They don't cost much and makes things much safer. It takes me maybe 15 minutes to change my own oil.

 

I'll second that. I have been changing my own oil for at least the last 40 years and always have used some sort of ramps. Our 2011 Model Five was a bit too close to the ground for the old ramps that I had, but I find that the Rhino's nicely solve the problem.

Frankly I started changing my own oil when I found that I was spending more time GETTING the oil changed, than I would if I changed it myself. Also, many of the oil change places were using junk filters, etc. By doing it myself I could control the quality of the materials used.

 

You really don't need very many tools to do an oil change on the Prius. At a real minimum you can do it with just the following.
1. A plastic drink bottle.
2. A short thick plank of wood.
3. A good length 14mm box end wrench (we call them "ring spanners" here and in the UK).
4. A filter removal tool.
5. A catch pan for the used oil.

Here's a photo of my minimal kit (except for the catch pan). Notice that I've thrown in a nice length breaker bar and 14mm socket as well. It's not strictly needed, because the box wrench is nice an long and will allow for plenty of grunt on the drain plug. But the breaker bar will definitely make life easier for removal of the plug, especially for the first time you remove it, as lots of shops way over-tighten them. You definitely don't want to use the breaker bar to re-install the plug, as it only needs 20 to 30 ft-lbs and box end wrench will do it very easily, with less risk of over-tightening.


I just drive the left front wheel up onto the plank, a whole 3.5" of lift, and that's all I need. This is very fast, no jack required, and also extremely safe. The plank is wider than the tire and it literally cannot fall off. The box end wrench is about 9.5" long and the breaker bar about 12".

BTW. Please ignore the filthy state of the drink bottle "funnel" , this one is only for draining the used oil back into an empty oil bottle for recycling. I always use a clean one for filling the oil.

 

Uart: I like your style. Absolute minimum but all you need. No one comes close to these simple and sensible suggestions.